Electromechanical lock with threshold device to control power transmission mechanism thereof and its operation method

Abstract

Electromechanical lock and its operation method. The lock includes a power transmission mechanism to receive mechanical power produced by a user of the lock; a generator to produce electric power from the mechanical power; an electronic circuit, powered by the electric power, coupleable with a key, to read data from the key, and to issue an open command provided that the data matches a predetermined criterion; an actuator, powered by the electric power, to receive the open command, and to set the lock in a mechanically openable state; and a threshold device to control the power transmission mechanism so that a mechanical tension rises until a predetermined force threshold is exceeded, whereupon the mechanical tension transforms to an action producing the mechanical power received by the power transmission mechanism.

1. An electromechanical lock, comprising:
 a power transmission mechanism to receive mechanical power produced by a user of the lock; 
 a generator to produce electric power from the mechanical power; 
 an electronic circuit, powered by the electric power, coupleable with a key, to read data from the key, and to issue an open command provided that the data matches a predetermined criterion; 
 an actuator, powered by the electric power, to receive the open command, and to set the lock in a mechanically openable state; and 
 a threshold device to control the power transmission mechanism, wherein the threshold device is configured to not release the power transmission mechanism until a mechanical tension exceeds a predetermined force threshold, such that the mechanical tension does not transform to an action producing the mechanical power received by the power transmission mechanism until the mechanical tension exceeds the predetermined force threshold, 
 wherein the power transmission mechanism comprises a main shaft of the lock, which is rotated during the reception of the mechanical power. 
 
     
     
       2. The lock of  claim 1 , wherein the threshold device is configured to control the power transmission mechanism so that the amount of the received mechanical power in the form of the electric power is sufficient for powering the electronic circuit and the actuator. 
     
     
       3. The lock of  claim 1 , wherein the threshold device is configured to control a muscular tension of a user of the lock, a spring, or a mechanical energy storage. 
     
     
       4. The lock of  claim 1 , wherein the threshold device is configured so that one operating cycle of the power transmission mechanism by a user of the lock is sufficient for powering the electronic circuit and the actuator. 
     
     
       5. The lock of  claim 1 , wherein the threshold device is configured so that a normal operation of the lock, including an insertion of the key into the lock and/or a turning of the key in the lock, is sufficient for powering the electronic circuit and the actuator. 
     
     
       6. The lock of  claim 1 , wherein the generator comprises a generator shaft, and the lock further comprises a gear between the main shaft of the lock and the generator shaft. 
     
     
       7. The lock of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic circuit is configured to recognize the following states: the lock is in the mechanically openable state; the lock is closed and the data does not match the predetermined criterion; and the lock is closed and there was not enough electric energy to read the data from the key and to check the match of the data by the electronic circuit or to place the lock in the mechanically openable state by the actuator. 
     
     
       8. The lock of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic circuit is configured to provide a signal for the key if the open command is not issued because the data does not match the predetermined criterion, so that the key informs the user that the data did not match the predetermined criterion. 
     
     
       9. The lock of  claim 8 , wherein the electronic circuit is configured to provide electric power for the key, so that the key informs the user with the electric power received from the electronic circuit. 
     
     
       10. An electromechanical lock, comprising:
 a power transmission mechanism to receive mechanical power produced by a user of the lock; 
 a generator to produce electric power from the mechanical power; 
 an electronic circuit, powered by the electric power, coupleable with a key, to read data from the key, and to issue an open command provided that the data matches a predetermined criterion; 
 an actuator, powered by the electric power, to receive the open command, and to set the lock in a mechanically openable state; and 
 a threshold device to control the power transmission mechanism, wherein the threshold device is configured to not release the power transmission mechanism until a mechanical tension exceeds a predetermined force threshold, such that the mechanical tension does not transform to an action producing the mechanical power received by the power transmission mechanism until the mechanical tension exceeds the predetermined force threshold, 
 wherein the power transmission mechanism comprises a mechanism to receive the mechanical power while the user is inserting the key into the lock, and 
 wherein the power transmission mechanism comprises a spur gear rotatable by a spur track of the key, or a plunge movable by a groove of the key, or a spring-loaded pin movable by a guide of the key. 
 
     
     
       11. An electromechanical lock, comprising:
 a power transmission mechanism to receive mechanical power produced by a user of the lock: 
 a generator to produce electric power from the mechanical power; 
 an electronic circuit, powered by the electric power, coupleable with a key, to read data from the key, and to issue an open command provided that the data matches a predetermined criterion; 
 an actuator, powered by the electric power, to receive the open command, and to set the lock in a mechanically openable state; and 
 a threshold device to control the power transmission mechanism, wherein the threshold device is configured to not release the power transmission mechanism until a mechanical tension exceeds a predetermined force threshold, such that the mechanical tension does not transform to an action producing the mechanical power received by the power transmission mechanism until the mechanical tension exceeds the predetermined force threshold, 
 wherein the threshold device comprises a ball or a roll and a spring, a bar and a spring, a magnet, a spring bar, or a bending spring bar. 
 
     
     
       12. The lock of  claim 11 , wherein the power transmission mechanism comprises a mechanism to receive the mechanical power while the user is turning the key in the lock, or a knob to receive the mechanical power while the user is turning the knob, or a handle to receive the mechanical power while the user is turning the handle. 
     
     
       13. The lock of  claim 11 , wherein the power transmission mechanism comprises a mechanism to receive the mechanical power while the user is inserting the key into the lock.